AeroVironment Switchblade

Lore & Background

The Switchblade was designed by the United States Air Force Special Operations Command and developed by the United States Army to assist troops in responding to enemy ambushes in Afghanistan. Close air support takes time to arrive, is costly, and risks collateral damage in urban areas. Troop-carried guided missiles like the FGM-148 Javelin are significantly larger, heavier, and more expensive. Human-portable UAVs like the Raven or Puma can spot threats but lack weapons. The backpackable, relatively inexpensive Switchblade has sensors to help spot enemy fighters and an explosive warhead to attack them from above, which is especially helpful in dug-in positions like rooftops or ridge lines.

On July 29, 2011, the U.S. Army awarded AeroVironment a $4.9 million contract for rapid fielding of an unspecified number of Switchblades to forces in Afghanistan. In May 2012, the United States Marine Corps began ordering Switchblades to allow troops to strike IED emplacement teams. By late 2012, 75 Switchblades were supplied to U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan. Several successful employments had occurred by January 2013. Commanders reported it was 'very effective.' The Army classifies it as a direct-fire munition rather than a drone. Unlike most other weapons, the Switchblade can wave off or abort a mission if the situation changes after launch. Wave off was used over a dozen times to prevent civilian casualties.

In October 2020, AeroVironment unveiled the larger Switchblade 600. By the time of its unveiling, it had undergone 60 test flights from ground launches against fixed and moving targets. In March 2022, the White House announced that 100 Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems would be provided to Ukraine as part of an $800 million military aid package. Another 600 systems were announced in April, bringing the total to 700. Ukraine first reported using a Switchblade on a Russian target in Kharkiv Oblast in early May. The Switchblade 600 was reportedly delivered to Ukraine by the end of 2022 and first used in combat in spring 2023.

Reader's Guide

The Switchblade family represents a notable shift in tactical warfare by combining reconnaissance and strike capability in a man-portable form. Its development was driven by the need for a rapidly deployable, low-collateral-damage weapon that could be carried by individual soldiers and used against ambushes and dug-in positions in Afghanistan. The ability to abort a mission after launch—used over a dozen times to prevent civilian casualties—distinguishes it from traditional munitions and underscores its design emphasis on reducing unintended harm.

Over 4,000 Switchblades were deployed in Afghanistan from its introduction to the end of Operation Enduring Freedom. The system gained notoriety among soldiers using it and insurgents targeted by it. Its export to Ukraine in large numbers (700 Switchblade 300s) marked a significant use in a major conflict, though Ukrainian units reported that jamming by Russian electronic-warfare systems led to a gradual decline in its use. AeroVironment later improved the Switchblade 600's resistance to jamming through software updates and better operator training.

The U.S. Army ordered more than 100 Switchblade 600s in October 2023 as part of the Low Altitude Stalking and Strike Ordnance program, and in August 2024 awarded AeroVironment a contract worth nearly $1 billion to deliver Switchblade 300 and 600 drones over five years. The system's evolution from a specialized counter-ambush tool to a widely procured loitering munition reflects its perceived effectiveness and adaptability across different operational contexts.

Did You Know?

• The Switchblade's spring-loaded wings are folded inside a tube and flip out once released, giving it its name.
• The U.S. Army classifies the Switchblade as a direct-fire munition rather than a drone.
• The Blackwing is an unarmed variant of the Switchblade 300, released in 2015.